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classicpseudonym's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
this book depicts a raw, human experience so damn well. given i haven’t been through a fraction of what the protagonist - jayne - has, but i felt so much emotion reading choi’s narration of her thought processes alone. i especially related to jayne’s constant need for distractions - thus her relationship with the city - and her inherent belief that new environments and her appearance will give her a fresh start and make people treat her a certain way. and overall the untethered nature of jayne’s actions due to her never feeling grounded, in control, or present in her body is subtly expressed but adds tremendously to the scattered feeling readers get thanks to choi’s well written narration. it’s worth noting that i’m lucky to have never experienced mental illness to the extent to which jayne does, but this book truly made me realize the extent to which illness - both mental and physical - consumes the conscience of so many. choi perfectly encapsulates that feeling of having no control of what’s happening around you or your reaction - or lack thereof, and the overall numbness jayne experiences at points throughout the book. in combination with her vivid flashbacks to a slew of childhood memories and strained familial relationships as well as disturbing and heartwarming encounters, so many moments in this book were so palpable that they left me numb with emotion. and don’t get me started on jayne’s interactions and dynamics with other people because the push/pull there is so well done i could go on for days. basically, hats off to choi!!! i will say this book is pretty triggering and i did have to put it down at some points because of that, but it does a really good job representing a tumultuous yet heartwarming narrative. so if you want to feel big feelings, give it a read :))
Content Warnings
Graphic: Dysphoria, Eating disorder, Vomit, and Mental illness
Moderate: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Cancer, Toxic relationship, Medical content, and Cursing
caitro's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder
starbeans's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Jayne is a young Korean-American woman living in New York after moving out from her parents’ house in Texas. Her older sister, June, moved to the city a few years before her. While Jayne’s life consists of dealing with her faulty apartment, skipping college classes, fighting with her situationship, getting sloppy drunk with her friends, and a heavy case of binge-eating and bulimia, June’s world is seemingly perfect, with a high-paying job in hedge funds. The two sisters seem nothing alike and apparently can’t really stand each other.
That is, until June discovers she has cancer.
It’s a heartwarming, funny, and gut-wrenching story all at the same time. It’s written incredibly well, the characters are fleshed out, and I love how unreliable Jayne is as a narrator. The ending (tiny spoiler) doesn’t really give any closure to the reader plot-wise, but it ends at a really, really good point nonetheless. Nothing but love for this book, practically inhaled it.
That is, until June discovers she has cancer.
It’s a heartwarming, funny, and gut-wrenching story all at the same time. It’s written incredibly well, the characters are fleshed out, and I love how unreliable Jayne is as a narrator. The ending (tiny spoiler) doesn’t really give any closure to the reader plot-wise, but it ends at a really, really good point nonetheless. Nothing but love for this book, practically inhaled it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder and Alcoholism
Moderate: Cancer
Minor: Drug use
frazzlefran's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
At first i really liked this book, then my interest dipped in the middle when i felt like the characters were going on as they were behaving in the same melancholy ways with no clear narrative or direction to the plot. The last 2-3 chapters revived it slightly. somehow i still really enjoyed this book, it’s a good read as a sister
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder
shvzl's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder and Vomit
Minor: Bullying
jada_banks's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder and Cancer
corriespondent's review against another edition
dark
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I felt pretty ambivalent about Yolk by Mary HK Choi as I was reading it, but after finishing the last couple chapters and closing the book, I think I… like it? Or appreciate it? Jayne is a Gen Z-ish Korean American living in New York, living a somewhat chaotic life and not really enjoying any of it, struggling with anxiety and an eating disorder (content warning). But she finds out that her kind of estranged older sister, June, has cancer, and this brings up all kinds of themes around immigrant families and the traumas that bind and divide them.
This book made me feel old; I mentally clucked my tongue at these younguns making terrible life choices in a Tinder world while feeling a kind of helpless compassion for them. I found almost all the characters rather unlikeable for most of the book, but they grew on me (and grew over the course of the book). And there is something kind of ironic or… freeing? to read Asian American characters who are not a model minority and a mere shiny sidekick.
So - I’m glad I finished it, but I am not sure I would read it again.
This book made me feel old; I mentally clucked my tongue at these younguns making terrible life choices in a Tinder world while feeling a kind of helpless compassion for them. I found almost all the characters rather unlikeable for most of the book, but they grew on me (and grew over the course of the book). And there is something kind of ironic or… freeing? to read Asian American characters who are not a model minority and a mere shiny sidekick.
So - I’m glad I finished it, but I am not sure I would read it again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Vomit and Eating disorder
Moderate: Alcohol, Drug use, and Toxic relationship
lauren_mansfield0201's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Eating disorder, Infertility, Medical content, Racism, Self harm, Cancer, Chronic illness, Alcohol, Miscarriage, Sexual assault, Toxic friendship, Mental illness, Vomit, Blood, and Panic attacks/disorders
ijk_'s review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder
amacaroni33's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
I found myself moved by Jayne and June's story. Family illness, generational trauma, and self-loathing are themes I know all too well. I appreciate how this book approached delicate topics such as cancer and ED in a realistic but respectful manner.
Seeing the world through Jayne's eyes and hearing her innermost thoughts and sarcastic remarks gave this story extra zest, its own distinct personality. In a lot of ways, Jayne represents all of us first-gen 20-something-year-olds who feel overlooked. Following her story made me think "Ah yes, there's another person who gets it." I hope everyone gives this book a chance, even if its subject matter seems uncomfortable at first. It covers a unique perspective most people don't read about as much.
Seeing the world through Jayne's eyes and hearing her innermost thoughts and sarcastic remarks gave this story extra zest, its own distinct personality. In a lot of ways, Jayne represents all of us first-gen 20-something-year-olds who feel overlooked. Following her story made me think "Ah yes, there's another person who gets it." I hope everyone gives this book a chance, even if its subject matter seems uncomfortable at first. It covers a unique perspective most people don't read about as much.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder
Minor: Cancer